Pubdate: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX) Contact: http://www.star-telegram.com/ Forum: http://www.star-telegram.com/comm/forums/ Copyright: 1999 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n1118/a09.html Author: Vicki W. Tilden PAIN RELIEF John Lunt's Dec. 4 letter took me by surprise. He stated: "Promoting the use of any drug, under any guise, is dangerous to our kids." It is very obvious that Lunt has never suffered pain worse than a simple headache. I suffer from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease. The main symptom is unrelenting pain, sometimes burning in nature. Other symptoms include temperature changes, insomnia, poor circulation and extensive swelling. Many of these symptoms are manageable. Pain, 24 hours a day, every single day, cannot be managed without strong pain relievers. No one with chronic pain sets out to use narcotics. They are our next-to-last resort. The last resort is becoming a suicide statistic. I am so proud to live in a state that allows its doctors to relieve pain without risk. Before deciding that all drugs are bad, take a close look around. You may be quite surprised at who you know who "uses" drugs. Your son, wife or even you may need these drugs next week. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck